Grain Elevators Archives - Lost In Michigan

Parker Mill

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Parks .

Parker Mill sits in the appropriately named Parker Mill County Park situated between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. The grist mill was built by William Parker in 1873, along the Flemming Creek. After William died the mill was operated by his son and grandson until the 1960s. After the mill closed, it was purchased along with the land along the creek to create the county park. The mill still stands for visitors to see how grain was milled over a century ago. Visitors can also hike the trail along the creek to enjoy a bit of nature.

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The Old Waterville Mill

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ghost towns, Grain Elevators .

Not far from the town of Saranac is an old mill with a sign on it that read Waterville Mill. It is all that remains of the old town of Waterville. In 1836 Robert Hilton from Grand Rapids purchased the large tract of land and platted a village he named Waterville. Hilton believed the town would prosper from people visiting it as they traveled along the Grand River Turnpike. To help the little town prosper he gave land to James Hoag to build a mill. In 1838 Hoag opened his mill and store and it became the post office for Waterville. Unfortunately, the turnpike never came through the little town. About a year after the post office opened it was moved to Saranac. The old mill with its whimsically painted boards covering the windows still stands as a reminder of the short lived town of Waterville. Hoag continued living in Waterville and ran his mill until a tree fell on him and killed him in 1851.

Please note: I do not give the exact location of the mill because it is privately owned. If you do know where it is please be respectful and do not trespass.

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Historic Hadley Mill

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

The small town of Hadley sits between Lapeer in Clarkson in the southeast part of the state. It is where you will find the red and white Hadley Historic Mill. It was built in 1874 by Peter Slimmer along the small Mill Creek. The building once stood on stilts to allow water to pass beneath. The creek’s dam was removed in 1924 and the structure was converted from a gristmill to an electric power plant. Eventually it sat unused and by the late 60s it was turned into an office and apartment building. Now it has been converted into a park and museum known as the Hadley Mill Museum.

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A Big Box of Jiffy Mix

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

I go to the baking isle in the grocery store and see all the little blue and white boxes of Jiffy Mix. They remind me of the grain elevator/plant in Chelsea where it is produced. It’s like a giant box of Jiffy Mix. It is nice to have products made in the USA but it is especially wonderful to get products made in Michigan. Now I am hungry for cornbread.

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The Old Grain Elevator

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

This old grain elevator sits in Port Hope near Lake Huron in the Thumb. I grew up in the city and know very little about grain elevators but they are fascinating to me. They look like some sort of Rube Goldberg device with all the tubes, conveyors and chutes sticking out of them. It seems like almost every town in Michigan has one or at least had one.

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The Old Grain Elevator in Avoca

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

The Old Grain Elevator in Avoca between Imlay City and Port Huron. The town was founded in 1884 and named after the Avoca river valley in Ireland. It had a train station at one time, but it’s gone now, and the old elevator has not seen a train in some time. The town is the northern end of the Wadhams to Avoca rail trail.

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Linden Mills

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Library .

The Linden Mills were a vital source of this village’s economic growth. The first mill, located on land granted to Consider Warner, was used to cut lumber. From 1845-1850 Seth Sadler and Samuel W. Warren, local residents, erected both a saw and grist mill. Operating along with the earlier facility, this complex was called the Linden Mills. The grist mill continued to function for over a century until the machinery was dismantled and sold at auction in 1956. The village then purchased the building for municipal offices and a public Library.

Reminder: If you live in the Fenton area I will be giving a presentation on

January 29th from 2-4 pm

Tyrone Township hall

8420 Runyan Lake Road, Fenton, MI 48430

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Rawson King Mill

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Parks .

This historic mill was built in 1872 northwest of Leonidas. It closed in the 1960s due to changing regulations for grinding grain. Eston and Lydia Rawson purchased the mill and surrounding property and began restoring the old mill along with planting gardens and updating the landscaping. The Rawsons shared their little slice of heaven with the surrounding community often allowing for neighbors to use it for weddings and other gatherings. in 2015 the property was converted into a county park after Eston and Lydia donated it to St Joseph County.

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Parshallville, Cider, Doughnuts, Rock n Roll and Gangsters: A Small Town With Big History

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, small towns .

The small town of Parhshallville sits in the lower mitten between Fenton and Howell. It is probably best known for the historic grist mill that is now a popular cider mill. The small town also has an interesting history. Isacc Parshall purchased land in 1834 and a few years later founded the community which was named after him. It was about a century later that the town got some new residents that were more than famous, they were “infamous” as the Three Amigos would say. West of the quiet little town the Purple Gang of Detroit purchased a farm and throughout the 20s and 30s, they would hang out at the farm and play poker away from the watchful eyes of the police.

Besides the Purple Gang, the little town had a famous resident. Mark Farner, the lead singer and lead guitar of Flint’s Grand Funk Railroad purchased a farm near Parshallville in the 1970s and built a recording studio at his rural home. The band recorded an album produced by Frank Zappa at Farner’s farm nicknamed the Swamp.

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Manchester Mill and Waterfall

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, small towns, Waterfalls .

This historic red mill sits in the southern Michigan town of Manchester. It is along the River Raisin and a small dam makes for an idyllic photo with a manmade waterfall. The historic town was first settled in 1826 and named after Manchester New York.

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